Tube corrugating machine



Patented Feb. 16, 1954 I 2,669,278 TUBE CORRUGATING MACHINE Raymond 0.Andersen, Lombard, 111., assignor to Corporation, Maywood,

Chicago Metal Hose 11]., a corporation of II linois Application March s,1948, swarm. 13,412

3 Claims. 153-73) This invention relates to apparatus and methods formaking corrugated tubing, and concerns particularly means and methodsfor making tubing of the one piece annularly corrugated type.

It is an object of the invention to provide improved methods andapparatus for making annularly corrugated tubing. More specificallystated it is an objectof the invention to provide improved means andmethods for making annularly corrugated tubing wherein a preformedcylindrical blank is first annularly grooved at predetermined spacedintervals, the tubing wall sections between the grooves being thereaftercollapsed or compressed to form the juxtaposed flexible annularcorrugations.

. One of the principal objects of the invention is to provide improvedmeans and methods for effecting the annular grooving operations, whichare faster and more reliable in operation, and impart a more uniform andaccurately controlled contour to the tubing walls.

A further object of the invention is to provide, in tube makingapparatus of the type defined, improved means and methods forcorrelating and controlling the grooving and tube wall compressingapparatus, and for effecting the continuous operation thereof to providethe finished flexible tubing wall section.

Various other objects, advantages and features of the invention will beapparent from the following specification, when taken in connection withthe accompanying drawings, wherein a preferred embodiment is set forthfor purposes of illustration.

In the drawings, wherein like reference numerals refer to like partsthroughout:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a tube making apparatus constructed inaccordance with and embodying the principles of the invention, inaccordance with one preferred embodiment thereof; certain parts beingbroken away or illustrated in section to show the details oftheapparatus;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the structure of Fig. 1 with certain partsbroken away and sectioned for clarity of illustration;

Fig. 3 is a transverse section of a part of the tube wall compressingapparatus, taken as indi cated by the line 33 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional view of another part of the tube wallcompressing apparatus, taken as indicated by the line 4-4 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged longitudinal sectional view of the groovingapparatus;

Fig. 61s a sectional detail view of one of the grooving slides andassociated parts, taken as indicated by the line 5 -'6'0f Fig. 5; I

Fig. 7 is an exploded view of certain of the parts of the grooving slideassembly;

Fig. 8 is a front view of the support plate of the grooving apparatus,showing several of the grooving fingers;

Fig. 9 is an illustrative view, more particularly 2 showing thecorrelative action of the grooving and wall compressing mechanisms;

Figs. 10-14 are illustrative views showing successive steps in theoperation of the parts of Fig. 9; and

Fig. 15 is a view of the completed tubing as made by the apparatus ofthe invention.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, and first to Figs. 1 and 2,the tube making apparatus shown comprises a grooving mechanism,

generally indicated by numeral l0, and a mechanism l2 for compressing orcollapsing the wall sections of the grooved tubing, said mechanismsbeing carried by a main base or frame [4 of the machine.

The mechanism for compressing or collapsing the tubing wall sections,after the grooving operations, is best shown in Figs. 1-4 and will befirst described. As indicated in Fig. 9, the function of this mechanismis to compress the wall sections of the previously grooved tubing so asto provide deep and closely spaced flexible annular convolutions.Referring to Figs. 1-4, it will be seen that the compressin apparatuscomprises two sets of jaws as indicated respectively at |6l8 and 20- 22.Jaws l6--|8 are shiftable relative to each other transversely of thetubing axis, so as to clampthe tubing convolutions; whereas the jaws20-22 are shiftable both transversely and axially of the tubing axis toeffect a clamping of the tubing and also the compressing thereof inconjunction with the clamping or holding action of the jaws l6-l8.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 3, it will be seen that the jaws l6 and I8 aretransversely shiftable along trackways '24 formed in the frame of themachine, there being a pair of compression springs 26 and 28 actingbetween the jaws to normally urge them into separated position. Toeffect the inward or gripping movement of the jaws onto the tubing, theyare provided with rollers as indicated at 30 and 32 cooperable with andactuated by cams as indicated at 34 and 36. The cam 34 is fixed to ashaft 38 journalled in the frame of the machine on one side of thetubing axis, whereas the cam 36 is secured to a shaft 40 similarlyjournalled on the machine frame on the opposite side of the tubing axis.

It will be seen that upon rotation of the shafts 38 and 40 apredetermined timed reciprocation willbe imparted to the jaws I3 and I8,against the action of the compression springs, whereby to effect thesequential clamping and unclamping of the convolutions of the tubing,indicated at 42, which is arranged for central disposition between thejaw members.

The structure and action of the jaws 23-22 will 'be best understood byreference to Figs. 1, 2 and 4. As shown in Figs. 1 and 4, the jaws 20and 22 are transversely reciprocable along tracks as indicated at 44,these tracks being formed in a rectangular frame structure 46 disposedin a plane-transversely of the tubing axis.

The frame 46 .isinturn reciprocable longitudinally of the tubing axisalong tracks 48 formed in the main frame of the machine. The jaws 20 and22 are normally urged away from each other by means of a pair ofcompression springs 60 and 52, Fig. 4, whereas the rectangular frame 40is normally urged axially of the tubing away from the clamping jawsIii-I8 by a set of compression springs 54, there being four such springsprovided in the particular embodiment shown.

To effect the clamping. movement of the jaws 20 and 22 relatively towardeach other, against the action of the compression springs 50-5-2, shafts38 and 40 are provided respectively with a pair of cams 56 and 58engageable with abutment rollers carried by the jaws and operable toeffect the shifting of the jaws toward each other in a similar manner aspreviously described in reference to the jaws I'6--I8. Toefiect the.reciprocation of the frame 40, axially of the tubing, the frame isprovided at its opposite sides with a pair of yoke projections 60 which,as best shown in Fig. 1, are connected respectively to the upper ends ofpivot arms 52 pivotally mounted at their lower ends upon the main frameof the machine. The arms 62 carry rollers adapted for engagement,respectively, by cams 64 and 66 fixed to a cross shaft 68 extendingtransversely of the tubing slightly below the tubing axis.

It will be seen that .by reason of the structures provided, uponoperation of the shafts 3'8 and 40, the earns 56 and 58 will effect theperiodic opening and closing of the jaws 20-42, whereas operation of theshaft 68 will cause the cams 6'4 and 66 to effect axial reciprocation ofthe frame 46 andv of the jaws 20-42 carried thereby, whereby to impartboth transverse and axial reciprocative movements to the jaw members.The sequential operating steps of. the jaws, in effecting the collapsingof the tubing wall sections, will be later described with reference toFigs. 10-14.

It will be noted that the cams 56 and 58 are sufiiciently wide so thatoperating contact with the jaw rollers is maintained at all times duringthe reciprocation of the frame 46.

The structures of the grooving mechanism are shown in Figs. 1, 2, 5, 6,'7 and 8. The main frame of the machine carries a housing I within whichis journalled a drive sleeve I2, Fig. by means of a pair of rollerbearings 14 and I8. Means is provided for driving; the sleeve comprisinga worm gear 13, secured thereto by means of a lock nut I9 and. arrangedto bedriven by a worm 80. This worm is driven by a shaft 8-2, Fig. 2,powered from an electric motor 84, there being a speed variatormechanism as indicated at 86 for controlling the speed of operation ofthe drive.

Referring further to Fig. 5, it will be seen that a stationary sleeve 88lies within the rotatable drive sleeve 12, this stationary sleeve beingadjustably held in fixed. position. by threaded engagement with a discmember 90, carried by the housing I0, and a lock nut 92.. The forward orleftward end of the rotatable drive sleeve 12 has a bushing 94 pressfitted therein, the bushing being rotatable upon the forward. end of thestationary sleeve 88. The stationary sleeve interiorly of its forwardend carries a collar or bushing 96 accurately sized tothe diameter ofthe tubing blank and within which the tubing blank is longitudinallyslidable with a close slid ing fit.

p The forward endof further secured thereto the hub portion 98 of a headplate I00 arranged to carry a series of slides I02, there being six suchslides, Fig. 8, in

"the particular embodiment illustrated, in three symmetrically disposedpairs.

A sleeve I04, Fig. 5, is mounted upon the plate hub 90, said sleevebeing arranged for rotation with the hub and for limited axial movementin respect thereto between the limits indicated by the full and dottedlines let. A collar I08 is rotatably carried on the sleeve 904 by meansof a pair of anti-friction bearings H0 and I I2, said collar having apair of oppositely projecting pins as indicated at H4- and H6. The pinsH4 and III; engage, respectively, within slots formed in a pair of yokearms H8 and I20. These arms which are bowed to collectively embrace thecollar I33, are pivotally mounted at one end upon the frame of themachine, as indicated at I22, and secured together at their oppositeends for movement as a unit, by bolts I24. The ends of the arms,adjacent the bolts I24, rotatably carry a roller member the function ofwhich will be presently described. It will be seen that by reason of theconnections provided, as the arms H8 and IEt are pivotally actuated, forexample by the roller I25, corresponding motion will be imparted to thesleeve I34 longitudinally of the tubing axis, the sleeve at the sametime being freely rotatable for movement with the main drive sleeve M.

The axial movements of the sleeve I04 are employed to control themovements of the grooving slides I02, the latter being radiallyshiitable onthe face plate I00 to eiiect the tube grooving operation.More particularly, referring to Figs. 5, 6, 'Z and 8, it will be seenthat the face plate is provided, at circumfercntially spaced intervalwith pairs of ears I28 forming the pivot mounting means for a pluralityof rocker levers 23%, there being one lever for each grooving slide. Onearm of the levers I30 projects radially inwardly for engagement within arecess of the sleeve IM, whereas the other arm of the lever projectsforwardly to provide a lug or extension member I32. Each lug I32 carriesa screw I34 held in adjusted position by mean of a lock nut I36, the endof the screw being adapted to bear against a hardened abutment piece I28carried in the upperend of the grooving slide I02. Each slide is guidedfor movement radially of the face plate by means of a pair of guidemembers I40 suitably bolted to the plate by screws I42. A bridge pieceHM is adjustably carried by the innermost screws I42, and a compressionspring I46 reacts between this bridge piece and a projecting portion I48of the grooving slide so as to normally hold the slide radiallyoutwardly of the face plate. The inner end of each grooving slidecarries a grooving tool- I50 replaceably held in position by means of ascrew I52.

It will be seen that by reason or" the connectionsprovided, as thesleeve I04 is shifted longitudinally of the tubing axis, simultaneousmovement will be imparted to the several grooving slides I02 and thegrooving tools carried thereby, radially oi the face plate structure,the several rocker levers I30 effecting movement of the slides againstthe action of the compression springs I453. It will be seen that thespring tension may be adjusted by the adjustable positioning of thebridge members I44, and that the position of each slide is readilyindependently adjusted by the adjustment of the screws I34 and the drivesleeve]: has; their associated loch nuts I36.

Particular attention is directed to the action of the several groovingtools, in effecting the grooving of the tubing blank. It will 'be seenthat the inner end of each tool is provided with a curved spinning facelat which engages the tubing and spins a groove therein as the severalslides I02 are actuated radially inwardly. The provision of a pluralityof slides and tools, simultaneously actuated and in balanceddisposition, produces a balanced structure permitting high speedoperation of the face plate I89, whereby to facilitate a rapid groovingoperation. Furthermore, the several simultaneously operating grooving orspinning tools impart a uniform contour to the grooves I88 formed in thetubing, even though the grooving slides may be reeiprocated relativelyrapidly to produce a maximum number of grooving operations for any giventime interval of machine operation. This uniform contour, thus impartedto the grooves I56, facilitates the proper placement and operation ofthe jaws Iii-I8 and 2823, forming a part of the tube wall collapsingmechanism previously described. The degree of penetration of thespinning tools into the tubing blank may be readily controlled by thescrews I 34, as previously described, and substitution of properspinning tools in accordance with the requirement of a particular tubingblank may be readily effected by means of the screws I52 withoutreplacement or substitution of the slide structures.

Means is provided for effecting the timed actuation of the groovingtools in relation to the operation of the clamping jaws Iii-I8 and20--22 of the tube wall compressing mechanism I2, the jaws 20-22 thusacting as means for feeding the tubing blank in respect to the spinningmechanism I0. Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, it will be seen that there isprovided a drive motor I58 operating through a change speed gearing orspeed variator mechanism I60 to actuate the helical drive gear I62. Thisgear meshes with and drives a helicoid gear lt l secured to the shaft ofthe tube wall compressin'g mechanism, previously described. Shaft 40 isinterconnected with cross shaft 68 by means of a pair of helicoid gearsI66, and shaft 68 is in turn interconnected with the cam shaft 38 bymeans of helicoid gears as indicated at I68. Cam shaft 40 is extendedpast the main drive gear and carries on its end a bevel gear I10arranged to mesh with and drive a bevel gear I12 fixed to a stub shaftwhich carries a cam I'M engageable with and arranged to actuate theroller I 26 carried by the arms H8 and I20 of the grooving mechanism,previously described. By reason of the connections thus provided theseveral actuating earns 34, 36, 86, 58, 54, 66 and I14 are all operatedin synchronized relation so that the grooving and wall collapsingmechanisms may be continuously operable upon a common tubing blank.

The action of the tools will be best understood by reference to Figs. 9and 1014. Referring to Fig. 9, it will be seen that the several jaws ofthe tube compressing mechanism carry tools as indicated at I16 and I19,shaped to conform to the desired contours of the tubing convolutions.Referring to Figs. 10-14, in Fig. 10 the tools I15 and I18 are shown inengagement with the tubing, and the spinning tool I50 retracted. In Fig.11 the tool I16 is holding the tubing while the tool I18 is-retractedand moving rightwardly so as to engage into a new tubing groove I56b.During this interval of operation the spinning tool I50 moves inwardlyand eifects the spinning of the tubing groove.

In Fig. 12 the tool I18 has reached its new position and the tool I50has been retracted. In Fig. 13 the tool I16 has been retracted and thefeeding tool I18 has moved partially toward the left, so as to bring anew tubing groove as indicated at I56a into position. in alignment withthe tool I16.

In Fig. 14 the tool I16 has moved into engagement with the tubing, afterwhich the tool I18 continues its motion to the left, to the position ofFig. 10, to collapse the tubing wall and complete the cycle ofoperation.

The completed tubing blank is shown in Fig. 15. As will be understood,the formed tubing may be used in longer lengths, as hose, or in shorterlengths, as bellows, or otherwise as desired to provide a fluid-tightflexible tubing structure.

It is obvious that various changes may be made in the specificembodiments set forth without departing from the spirit of theinvention. The invention is accordingly not to be limited to theparticular embodiments shown and described, but only as indicated in thefollowing claims.

The invention is hereby claimed as follows:

1. Apparatus for making flexible metal tubing and comprising a rotatabletool support, a plurality of grooving tools mounted on the tool supportwith the operative ends thereof disposed adjacent and peripherallyaround the space in which a tubular work piece is positioned, means forsupporting the work piece, said means including a fixed collar adjacentthe grooving tools and engaging the workpiece with a close sliding fit,and said means acting to prevent material rotation of the work piece butpermitting positive axial feeding of the work piece through said collar;means for simultaneously reciprocating the grooving tools toprogressively engage the work piece for effecting the complete groovingthereof to a predetermined depth upon each stroke of the grooving toolsinto engagement with the tubular work piece, and means independent ofthe grooving tools and spaced therefrom for compressing the work piecewall sections between adjacent grooves and including an axiallyreciprocable compressing member effective to feed the work piece axiallyof the space within the operative ends of the grooving tools upon theirwithdrawal from engagement with the work piece.

2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the rotating means for thetool support includes a hollow rotatable shaft within which said collaris positioned adjacent the operative ends of the grooving tools.

3. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the grooving tools are eachindividually adjustable relative to the work support.

RAYMOND C. ANDERSEN.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS NumberName Date 1,605,194 Kopf Nov. 2, 1926 1,750,784 Petersen Mar. 18, 19301,810,342 Bulger June 16, 1931 1,982,369 Brinkman Nov. 27, 19342,027,018 Brinkman Jan. '1, 1936 2,092,873 Brinkman Sept. 14, 19372,486,830 Farrar et al Nov. 1, 1949 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date14,944 Great Britain 1887

